MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Troop G - 1226 W. Bus. 60/63, Willow Springs, MO 65793
News Release
For further information please contact: Sergeant Jeff Kinder
(417) 469-3121, ext. 3735
G-01153
January 9, 2015
EMPHASIS: Troop G Involved In Water Rescue
On the morning of January 3, 2015, Troop G troopers and area first responders successfully executed a swift water rescue of a teenage female from a vehicle stranded in high water on Missouri Highway 142 at a creek crossing, locally known as 'Bennett's River.'
At 6:50 a.m., on January 3, 2015, Troop G received a call of a vehicle stranded in high water on a low water crossing on MO 142, one and one-half miles west of Moody, MO, in Southern Howell County. Responding troopers found a Ford Mustang stalled in the flood waters occupied by a female driver. Initially, a West Plains Fire Department ladder truck was used to attempt a rescue. However, the ladder wouldn't reach the stalled vehicle. A Highway Patrol watercraft arrived on the scene and was used to rescue the 18-year-old female driver. She was taken to a Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, MO, treated for hypothermia, and released.
Although this incident had a successful outcome, situations like this have ended in tragedy. Motorists are reminded that as little as 12 inches of water can cause a car to float and be swept away by the current. With spring right around the corner, drivers should remain aware of the fluctuating water levels of area creeks and rivers. Take a few extra minutes to drive around high water; it could save your life.
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